Roses are red, buyers are blue over prices

For those truly in love, money supposedly isn’t an issue. Pattaya-area flower vendors obviously knew that when they jacked up prices for roses before the annual lovers’ day.

A central Pattaya florist said business kicked up even before the holiday arrived, with tourists and residents picking up artificial rose bouquets for 300 baht and teddy bear baskets starting at 2,600 baht. Fresh roses were going for 10-20 baht each.

Those rates didn’t last long. As Feb. 14 dawned, roses were fetching 80-120 baht each, leaving students and those with fewer baht to spend with heart-shaped boxes of chocolates or even postcards.

Rose prices were said to be the highest ever. Florists said demand has been equally high, with lovers taking pink roses and other flowers when the red ones went out of stock.

A rose, by any other price would smell as sweet. But an 8 x rise in price is quite steep.